Automatic replenishing loom



Feb. 10, 1925. l 1,525,773

W. FLETT AUTOMATI C REPLENISHING LOOM Feb.. 1.0, 1925. 1,525,773

w. FLETT AUTOMATIC REPLENISHING LOOM Filed March 23, 1921 e sheets-sheet 2 Feb; 1o, 1925. 1,525,113

. W. FLETT l AUTOMATIC REPLENISHING LOOM Filed March 28 1921 nb, 10, 1925.;Av

VM FLETT AUTOMATIC -REPLENISHING LOOM Filed March 26. 1921 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Febylo, 1925. 1,525,773

w. FLETT AUTOMATIC REPLENISHING LOOM Filed March 28'JL 1921 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 ff?" /4 31 II i /7 H Feb, 1o, 19251 1,525,773

w. FLETT Y .AUTOMATI C REPIJENI SHING LOOM Filed March '28, l 9 *21 Feb. 10. '1925. 1,525,773

v W. FLETT AUTOMATIC REPLENISHING LOOM Fi1ed March 28, 1921 Feb. l0, 1925.

W. FLETT AUTOMATIC REPLENISHING LOOM l Filed yMaI-ch 28, 1921 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Patented Feb. 10, 1925.

I UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE.

y WILLIAM FLETnxoE WAKEFTELD, MASSACHUSETTS, AssIeNoE To LAWRENCE DUCK COMPANY, or LAWRENCE, MASSACHUSETTS, A coEroEATToN or MASSACHUSETTS.

AUTOMATIC REPLENISHING LOOM.

Application filed March 28, 1921. Serial No. 456,314.

To allwlwm z'ltmay/ concern.' y

Be it known that I, IVTLLIAM FLETT,` a citizen of the United States, residing at Wakefield, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Replenishing Looms, of which the following is a specification. A

This invention `relates to weft-replenishing looms, and more particularly'to` looms of the type in which the spent shuttle is recharged automatically with a full bobbin and subsequently used again for weaving. Byway of illustration a loom of the Staffordtype is shown, and to it are applied thefseveral features embodying the present invention.

One object of the invention is to provide improved autom at-ic weft-replenishing mechafnisi'n whereby full bobbins may be taken automatically from a bobbin magazine of any desired or preferred capacity and placed in a shuttleV automatically whenever replenishment is required.

In order to produce fabric free from imperfections, it is necessary to control and cut off the` outlying ends of weft thread at those `points where `the last shot of `old filling and the "first shot of new Vfilling are incorporated into the fabric, so that such ends of filling may not be carried into the shed or entangled in the mechanismof the loom. Accordingly, a further object of the invention is to provide improved means for controlling the outlying ends of filling and for cutting them off at points close to the selvage of the fabric.

Still another object of the invention is to provide improved means for Athreading the shuttle whenever the latter is charged with new filling, and also to provide for clearing old filling from the eyeof the shuttle preparatory to threading the eye with new lling.'

Certain features ofthe invention relating more particularly to the shuttle-'changing mechanism form the subject-matter of my eopending` application Serial No. 555,094, filed April 18, 1922, while certain `features relatiing more particularly `to the bobbin magazine form the subject-matter of my copending application Serial No. 555,095 tiled April 18, 1922. Both of said cepending applications were tiled in pursuance of an official requirement for division;

Other objects `of the invention and the several` features embodying the latter lare hereinafter described and claimed and are illustrated by the accompanying drawings- `Referring to the drawings v Figure l represents an end elevation of a loom constructed in accordance with this invention, the front of the loom being at the left of the figure, and the replenishing mechanism being in the foreground or at the right-hand end of the loom. For the sake of clearness, and because of the small scale to which the drawings are reduced. much of the 'regular equipment is omitted and the frame included in this figure `is incomplete at the right-hand side of the figure. So far as the loom is here represented, it is in condition for the operation of the weaving mechanism.

i Figure 2 shows a cam and a portion `of the lever bywhich the weaving mechanism is automatically se-t in ope-ration at the end of each cycle of the weft-replenishing operation. Tliislever is included in Figure 1.

FigureB is an end elevation of mechanism for automatically locking the starting mechanism `until such time as'thespent shuttle has been deposited in a predetermined position for recharging, and which is automatically released by the spent `shuttle when the latter has been so deposited.

Figure 4 is a -perspective view of an assemblage of mechanism in fthe-locality where-the spent shuttle is recharged `with new filling.

Figure 5 is a vertical section through `the structure shown in Figure 4, the direction of view being the opposite of` that of Figure l. In Figure 5 a shuttle is shown in section as having been recharged with new filling.

Figure Gis a vertical section, in a plane parallel to that of Figure 5, through a chute `by which the weft-end carriers are guided.

The `direction of view is the same as that of Figure 5.v

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 5 but in `another vertical plane, and represents the small end of a spent bobbin in the shuttle, together with a "full `bobbin about to `be forced downwardly into the shuttle.

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure excepting that it represents the full `loobbin in end elevation. The shuttle is about to be removed from its charging :position by the shuttle carrier, which is supposed to be moving from right to left.

Figure 9 is a sectional view looking down from the plane indicated by line 9 9 of Figure 5.

Figure 10 is a top plan view of the inclined chute by which the full bobbins are conducted to the charging position. The structure here represented 'forms the upper part of Figure 5.

Figure 11 is a sectional view through the structure shown by Figure 10, in the plane occupied in the latter ligure by the bobbin B.

Figure 12 is a top plan view of a fragment of the bobbin chute included in Figure 10, the structure shown being disassembled from the element shown separately by Figure 13.

Figure 13 is ai top plan view of a reciprocatory slide that cooperates with the structure shown by Figure 12 to detach the weftend carriers from their respective bobbins and to control the advancement of the weftend carriers in accordance with that of the bobbins.

Figure 14 is a top plan view including the change shuttle box of the lay and the shuttle carrier by which the shuttles are carried to and from the charging position. This ligure shows the spent shuttle as having been ejected from the shuttle box, and shows a filled shuttle on the shuttle carrier, which is in the act of carrying the filled shuttle to the shuttle box to replace the spent shuttle and to receive the latter for subsequent transference to the charging position.

Figure 15 is a front elevation including the lilled shuttle on the carrier as shown by Fi'ure 14, together with the corresponding wett-end carrier supported in position to keep the outlying end ot new filling in the throat leading to the eye of the shuttle.

Figure 16 is a vertical section correspond ing to Figure 14, the shuttle box and the shuttle carrier being in the same relative positions as those represented by Figure 14.

Figure 17 is a perspective view of a clamping device carried by the shuttle carrier to clamp the spent shuttle.

Figure 18 is a perspective view of a clampingdevice also carried by the shuttle carrier to clamp the illed shuttle.

Figure 19 is a front elevation otl the lower portion of the magazine from which the iilled bobbins pass to the charging locality.

Figure 2O is a vertical section through the magazine.

Figure 21 is a view looking in the same direction as Figure 20, and includes the mechanism by which the bobbins are controlled as they pass from the magazine. This figure also includes devices by which the outlying end of old filling is clamped and parted preparatory to the recharging of the spent shuttle.

Figure 22 is a top lan view of certain elements included in Figure 21.

Figure 23 is a perspective view of certain elements included in Figures 21 and 22.

Figure 24 includes the clamping device and thread-parting device represented in Figure 21 from the opposite point ot view. According to Figure 24, the parts are about to move to the positions to be occupied when the weaving mechanism is operating and when the wett-replenishing mechanism is at rest. Y

Figure 25 is an elevation from the same point et' view as Figure 1, and includes the mechanism by which the spent shuttle is ejected 'from the change shuttle box when 'illing replenishment is required. This mechanism it included in Figure 1 would be in the foreground relatively to the elements included in Figure 1.

Figure 2li includes mechanism by which the outlying end ot old illing is moved into position to be clamped and parted by the devices shown in Figure 24, and includes also some ot' the mechanism by which a iilled bobbin is depressed into the spent shuttle at the charging locality.

Figure 27 includes additional elements of' the slnittle-charging mechanism.

Figure 28 is a perspective view of a weighted latch included in Figures 26 and 27.

Figure 29 is a perspective view including a fragment of woven fabric, a portion of the shed, a temple and temple thread cutter, a shuttle in the charging position, and other elements hereinafter accounted for.

Figure 30 is a top plan view illustrating two successive phases ot the manner in which the outlying end of new filling if:` taken care ot' a'lter the first pick of [illing has been laid in the shed by the recharged shuttle.

Figure Bl is a perspective view ot the elements shown by Figure 9. excepting that the weft-end carrier is suspended by the thread instead ot' resting on the iixed support as in Figure 9. The suspension oic the wett-end carrier according to the showing in Figure 31 corresponds to the showing in Figure 30.

Figure 32 is a perspective view ot the upper part ot' the bobbin magazine. and represents the iiexible apron. which normally rests upon the bobbins. as being detached at one end and lifted above the top ot the magazine.

Figure 33 isa top plan view of automatically controlled driving mechanism including` a weaving clutch and a replenishing clutch.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts wherever they occur.

Although looms ot the Stafford type are well known, a brief description ot some ot llO connnonly termed the changeshaftf7 which rcmaiiis at restso long as the weaving mechanism is in operation. `Whenever filling replenishment is required, suitable controlling devices are automatically brought into play to disconnect the power from the weaving mechanism -so that the lay will come. to rest at or near rear center, and by which t-hfe power is automatically connected to the change shaft to eEect replenishment. The change shaft then executes one complete cycle, during which replenishment is effected, and as the final step in such cycle the power is automatically disconnected l from the change shaft and is reconnected to the weaving mechanism. The loom then resumes weaving as before. In that loom the spent shuttle is ejected together' with the spent bobbin contained in it, and a previously filled shuttle is transferred automatically from a shuttle magazine to the change shuttle box of the lay, no further use being` made of thespent shuttle until it has been recharged by hand and rep-laced in the shuttle magazine. The shuttle magazine may contain as many as six filled shuttles, but usually no more, the capacity `of the looin being limited to the capacity of the .shuttle magazine.

rliccording to the present invention, the weaving mechanism and the aforesaid change shaft are operated alternately as in the Stafford loom and `are automatically brought into play as filling'replenishment is required and executed but instead of dis cai-ding the spent shuttle as is done by the Stafford loom, this invention provides autoA matic mechanism for recharging the spent sliuttleuand for replacing it in the change shuttle box when it is again needed. In this 'ay `two shuttles aresufiicient for each loom, cach shuttle replacing the other when replenishment is required, and the spent shuttle being recharged with a filled bobbin at a suitable charging locality vand held in reserve until replenishment is again needed.

`rccording to the present invention, the capacity `of the loom for producing fabric is commensurate with the capacity of the bobbin magazine in which filled bobbins are held in reserve and from which` they are taken to recharge the shuttles Vas the latter are interchanged. y n

Referring now to Figure 1, one of the end pieces of the frame of the loom is indiL cated at 1U. The usual and well known elements of the weaving mechanism include the lay 11, crankshaft 12, cranks such as that indicated at 13, connecting rods such as that indicated at 14, lay swords one of which is indicated at 15 in Figures 21 and 2G, picker sticks such as that indicated at 16, binders such as. that indicated at 17 (see also Fgure 14), screeds such as that indicated at 18 (see also Figure 21) and breast beam 19 (see Figures 21, 2l and 2G). In Figure 1 the lay is shown at the rear center.` at or near which position it remains stationary during the period of replenishment, suitable clutch and brake mechanism for insuring such position being regular equipment in the standard commercial Stafford loom but being omitted from the dra-wing.

One shuttle is indicated at S in Figure 1, and the other is indicated at S', the former being in the change shuttle box of the lay and the latter heilig at the charging locality. The change shuttle box includes the lay 11,

the binder 17, the screed 18, and a movable shuttle box front 20. llie latter is afhxed to a pair of arms, one of which is indicated at 21, these arms being mounted upon a, pivot member 22 and provided with a third arm 23. The upper end of a rod 24 is pivotally connected to arm 23, while the lower end is connected to a lever 25. This lever is mounted upon a fulcrum rod 26 upon which a plurality of other levers, 'hereinafter described, are likewise mounted. A cam 27 actuates the lever 25 soas to lift. the shuttle box front 2O as one steps in the cycle of replenishing operations. A spring 28 is con nected to one of the arms 21 and exerts a downward pull normally to keep the shuttle box front in the position shown.

The cam 27` and other cams hereinafter described` `are affixed to a. shaft 30 which is commonly termed the change shaft. This shaft, as hereinbefore explained, remains stationary while the weaving mechanism is operating, and is automatically broughtinto operation to effect replenishment. At such timesit executes a single rotation and then cornes to rest. One ofthe 'last functions performed. by the change shaft is to disconnect the power from itself and reconnect the power to the weaving` mechanism, all in accordance with well known practice in, Stafford looms. lVhen filling' replenishment is required, the power is transferredY from the weaving mechanism to the change shaftby well known automatic mechanism (Figure B3) under the control. of the feeler mechanism that is also well known but not herein illustrated. In every case 'when replenish ment is required the weaving mechanism comes to rest when the spent shuttle is at the change end of the lay.

The first thing that occurs when the change shaft is set in operation is the lifting of the shuttle box front 2O to a level above the top of the spe-nt shuttle. Then the shuttle is pushed toward the front of the loom by an ejector 31, the shuttle thereby being transferred to a receiver This receiver swings forward and back with the lay and remains normally in position to receive the ejected shuttle; and when` the ejector has transferred the spentl shuttle to the' receiver. the latter is lifted 'to a level such that the filled shuttle may pass under the spenit shuttle and take the place ot' the latter in the change shuttle box. The eje"- tor 31 (see Figure 25) is operated by a cam 33 on the change sha tt, the ojerating connections including a` lever Si, connecting rod 35, compression spring` 36, and swinging carrier 37 forming a part of the ejector. The carrier 37 is carried upon a tulcrum member 3S, and the latter is carried by a bracket 39 atlixed to the lay. The rod 35 extends loosely through a block 4:0. the latter being pivotally connected; to the carrier ST by trunnions so as to avoid binding. Spring 3G constitutes cushioning element that may yield to avoid breakage in the event that the shuttle becomes stuck or if for any other reason the normal swinging movement of the ejector is prevented. The held under initial compression by a collar #i1 allixed to the rod 35. A tension spring 42 maintains a downward pull on the lever 3a to return the ejector to its retracted position.

The shuttle receiver 32 is shown bestby Figures 14 and 1G. It comprises tivo separated shutde-engaging portions at the end of an underslung yoke or connecting bar lil which provides a space through which the charged shuttle is carried. Referring to Figure 1G. the shuttle receiver is represented in its normal position by dotted lines, and in its raised position by solid lines, the spent shuttle being` represented by dotted lines at Fi as resting on the raised receiver. The ends of the receiver are provided vvith flanges 1111 which slide up and down in guides 15 bolted to the front of the lay. rod 416 is affixed to the connecting portion 48 of the receiver and extends downwardly through a guiding bracket Lt7 bolted to the lay7 and also through a guiding bracket i8 affixed to the oscillatory sword shaft l-S). A. Comoression spring 5() surrounds the rod and is compressed between the upper guide .4i-7 and a bracket 51 aftixed to the lower part of the rod. This bracket has a forked portion which straddles the ,forward end of a lever This lever is mounted on the fulcrum rod 26 and bears on a` cani 53 carried by the change shaft. As soon as the spent shuttle has been placed on the receiver as shown in Figure 1li, the receiver is raised to the position shown by solid lines in Figure 16, and it remains in the latter position through a brief interval While the filled shuttle S is passing under the spent shuttle on its way to the change shuttle box.

rlhe. lilled shuttle is carried to the change shuttle box and the spent shuttle is carried away by a carrier shown at the left of Figure 16 and at the bottom of Figure 14, this carrier having tivo sepa 'ate shuttle-supporting platforms for the shuttles respectively. vWhen the shuttle carrier has carried the lille/d shuttle to the required position in the shuttle box. itvremains stationary for a brief interval during which the receiver 32 descends to deposit the spent shuttle on it7 whereupon the shuttle carrier swings toward the front of the loom, leaving the filled shuttle in the shuttle box and carrying the spent shuttle to the charging locality. During that period when the shuttle carrier is in position to receive the spent shuttle from the receiver 32, the movable shuttle box front 20 descends in front of the tilled shuttle and the latter is thus taken under control preparatory to the resumption of weaving.

lhe shuttle carrier is formed in part by a lever 54 the fulcrum of which is indicated at in Figure 1. A. roll 56 carried by the lever runs on a cam 57 carried by the change shaft, and a tension spring 58 keeps the roll on the cam and causes the carrier to more from the front of the loom toward the rear under the control of the cani. riflie head of the shuttle carrier is provided with a platform 59 for the spent shuttle and with a pair of lingers 60 which constitute a platform for the filled Shuttle. The rear ends of these fingers are turned up as indicated 61, to stand behind the rear upright su i'V- face of the filled shuttle. The front face oi the filled shuttle is engaged by a pair of abutments 62 formed on a member slioivii separately byFigure 17. Then the carrier is about to place the lilled shuttle on the lay, the bottom of the shuttle engages a pair of inclined fingers 63 carried by the lay. said fingers being arranged to deflect the shuttle upwardly to the top ot' the lay and above the npturned ends 61 of the carrying tingers. The latter move into recesses 64 formed in the top ot' the lay for their reception.

Figure 18 shoyvs a device by which the filled shuttle is clamped against the abutments 62 While it is being transferred from the charging locality to the shuttle box. This device includes a pair of lingers 65 arranged to extend upvvardlv into the bobbin cavityof the shuttle and to engage the rear surface of the front Wall of the shuttle with a slight pressureI thereliy clamping the front ivall of the shuttle against the abutments (i2. These clamping fingers are ai"- tixed to a rocksliaft 66. the ends of the latter being journaled in bearings 67 in the abutments 62, and the tingers 65 projecting from the abutments through Openings fig- The clamping device for the filled shuttle is thus supported entirely by the abut njients 62, although the latter` areV movable. relatively tothe head of the carrier. As shown by Figures 16 and 17 the abutments are parts of a member con'iprising an arm 69 and having a hub mounted upon a rod 70. This rod is fixed to the carrier, and the element including the abutment is arranged to turn relatively thereto so as to clamp and release `the spent shuttle. A torsionspring V7l encircling the rod 70 engages tliearm (5.9 and is anchored t0 a collar 72 on the rod. The spring normally raises the abutments to the position shown in Figure lo. in which position the space between the abutments (i2 and another pair of `abutments 73 is slightly less than the width of the shuttle.. Y i

Then the carrier is in position to receive the spent shuttle theV abutments 62 are depressed suiliciently to increasefthe space between them andthe abutments 7 3 to a dis-V tance greaterthan the width of theshuttle;

and while they are so spaced, the spent i shuttle deposited between them. Then as the shuttlecarrier moves away from the lay toward the chargingpositlon, the abutments (i2 are raised by the spring 71 andiare there-` by causedto clamp the spent shuttle against the al'mtments 7 3f For `.this purpose the member shown separatelyby Figure 17 is provided i with a finger 74, which finger strikes agzlinst the connecting portion 4:3 of the shuttle receiver to separate the abutments as afmesaid.` In like manner the tmgers by which the filled shuttle is clamped are provided with a finger 7 5 which also engages the connecting portion L13 of the shuttle receiver. This engagement depresses the luigi-rs G5 and releases their clamping action on the filled shuttle during the final stages `of placing the latter on the lay the Ifilled shuttle beingl thus competely released from the carrier before the latteris arrested and thereafter sliding` on the lay so as to pass ove* and beyond the `fingers 65 until it is arrested bythe binder 17.V y

The shuttle, carrier. having received the spent shuttle `from the receiver 32, swings toward the front of the loom with the spent shuttle clamped thereong and passes between two fixed shuttle-supporting brackets 76. both of which are included in Figure 29 and one of which is shown in Figures 1.` 5 and 7. The other one ofsaid brackets is shown in Figures .4l and 8. 'Referring to Figure il, the shuttle `carrier passes through. the relatively wide space at the bottom of the Figure. and in so doingl it deposits the spent Shuttle on the brackets so that the `shuttle talesthe position shown by Figures 5, 7 and- 8. i The movement of the spent shuttle is arrested by a fixture 77 of which the brackets 76 are parts. This fixture 77 is bolted to the breast beanr19 and projects laterally beyond the end frame 10. The carrier continues to move toward the front after the shuttle has been arrested as aforesaid, the yielding abutments 62of the carrier being depressed by the now stationary shuttle and passing under the latter. The carrier moves tothe front so far as to carry the lingers (3() beyond the shuttle which is now in the charging position, thus clearing the space directly under` the shuttle so as to enable the spent bobbin to drop from the shuttle without encountering any obstacle. During the last stages of the'forward movement of the carrier, the latter engages and depresses a roller 7 8 by Vwhich a. lever 79 is oscillated to clamp the shuttle in the charging posit-ion. `he clamping portion of thisylever is indi' cated at 80, and the fulcrum stud is indicated at 81. A torsion spring 82 holds the clamping lever in the position indicated by dotted lines in Figure 5 exceptingwhen the lever` is held in clamping position by the carrier as aforesaid. A 4

At the moment when the spent shuttle is deposited in the charging position it engages two movable members one of which is indicated at 83 in Figure 5 and the other of which is indicated at 84 in Figures 3 and 4. rThe member 83 ismounted upon a ful crum pin w85 and is provided with a horn 86 that is depressed into a cavity 87 in the upper side of the shuttle, near one end. This cavity forms a part of the throat 88 through which the thread is drawn from the bobbin to the eye 89 (see Figures 14, 15 and 29). The function of the horn 86 is to control the outlying end of the filled bobbin that is about to be put into the spent shuttle, so as to insure drawing the thread into the throat as hereinafter described.

The member 84 that is also actuated by the spent shuttle as aforesaid is afiixed to a roclrshaft 99, and its function is to control the position of a latch 91 which is also affixed to the rockshaft. The function of the latch `91 is to prevent accidental and premature actuation of the starting shaft 92 by which the power is disconnected from the change shaft and connected to the weaving mechanism. The latch 91 is so hung as to occupy the position shown by Figure 3 when no shuttle is in the charging position; but the front lower edge of a shuttle in the charging position depresses the tip of the memberL sufliciently to retract the latch out ofthe path of a catch 93 affixed to an arm 94. This arm is aliixed to the starting shaft 92 which extends across the front `of the loom from the change end to the opposite end where the clutch and brake mechanism is located. See Figure 38. An arm 95 is loosely mounted on the 4starting shaft and connected to the arm 94by"a icc ist

strong tension spring 96 which constitutes a yielding connection for transmitting starting motion impartedl automatically to the arm by a rod 97. This rod runs toward he rearof the loom and extends through an opening in the upper end of a starting lever 0S. The lever is mounted ou the fulcrum bar 2G and cooperates with a collar 99 atIiXed to the rod. A cam carried by the change shaft 30 actuates the lever so as to impart starting motion to the shaft 92 when the change shaft is about to complete its cycle of operations. Tf for any reason th-i` spent shuttle fails to take its predetermined charging position on the brackets 76 it will not depress the member S1 and consequently the latch 91 will remain in latching position as shown by Figure and the motion of the starting lever 9S will be spent in distending the spring 90 instead of coupling the power to the weaving mechanism as it would when every step in the cycle of replenishing operations had been executed without error.

Figure shows a suitable clutch mechanism for operating the weaving mechanism and the replenishing mechanism alternately. A handle 251 is atlixed to the starting shaft 92 vand transmits motion to a clutch lever 252 through the agency of a link 253, bellcrank lever 254 and link The fulcrum stud of the bell-crank is at 256, and that o t the clutch lever is at One end of this lever is forked and constitutes a shipper for a continuously rotating driving element such. as a pulley 258. The latter is splinexl on a countershaft 250 so as to maintain driving` connection with the shaft but to move axially without corresponding move ment of the shaft. A worm 200, ailixed to the shaft 259, and a gear 261 provide transmission with speed reduction for operating the change shaft 80. This transmission includes an inclined shaft 262 and bevel gears 263 and 26-1 of which the latter is carried bya clutch sleeve 205 loosely mounted on the change shaft. A disk 206 formed ou the sleeve serves as the driving element of a disconnectible catch for olicrating the change shaft. The driven member of this clutch is a disk 267 atlixcd to the shaft and provided with spring-pressed latch 26S one end of which tends to enter a notch in the driving disk when the other end is released bv an automatically controlled knock-oft 269.

The driving member 258 is one member of a friction cone-clutch of which the driven member 270 is fixed on the hub of a gear 271. This gear is loosely mounted on the shaft and meshes with a gear fixed on the crankshaft 12 of the weaving mechanism. As the change shaft couples the weaving clutch 258` 2707 the latch 268 is retracted by the knock-olf 269 and uncouples the replenishing` clutch; and when the feeler mechanism releases the weaving clutch, it causes the knock-off to let in the replenishing clutch.

A magazine 101 for containing the supply of reserve bobbins is arranged over the change shuttle box and is supported by a bar 102 the rear end of which is bolted to the crosshead 103 and the forward end of which rests upon and is bolted to the breast beam. The bobbins are placed one upon another in the magazine without regard to arrangement, excepting that all extend parallel to the lay and are arranged so that their tip ends point away from the loom. The bohbins7 excepting those hereinafter particularly identified, are indicated at 104. Their tip ends are bored to receive the stems of detachable weft-end carriers, one of which is shown best by Figure 31. Each carrier comprises a disk 105 and a stem 10G. The disk is provided with a tapering cleft 107 in which the end of the weft thread may be secured by drawing it laterally into the cleft until it is bound bythe converging walls. These weft-end carriers are preferably made of metal, so that they will have suiiicient weight to roll as hereinafter described. Then the bobbins are stored in the magaziml the stems 106 are conta-ined in the aforesaid sockets formed in the tips of the bobbins as shown in Figure 19. The sockets formed in the bobbins are indicated at. 108 in Figure 1l. The bottom of the magazine is inclined as shown by Figure 20 so that the bobbins ma)Y roll down the incline and pass out through an opening in the front wall of the magazine. From this point they roll down an inclined chute 100 to the position occupied by bobbin D in Figures 5, 7, 8 and 10. al though the chute does not extend quite so far as to support the bobbin at the posit-,mn last specified. Figures 5 and 10 show the bobbin C as being supported by the chute near its lower end. As each bobbin advances from position G to position D, il leaves the chute and is supported temporarily by a pair o't displaceable supporting` latches 110. These latches are pivotall'v connected to the fixtures 77 by pins 111 and are normally held in bobbin-supporting position by tension spring 112.

A bobbin in position D is in vertical registration with the shuttle that occupies the charging position, and stands directly under a vertically movable hammer 113 by which it is depressed into the shuttle so as to eject the spent bobbin through the bottom of the shuttle and to replace the spent bobbin. `Shuttles and bobbins embodying this principle are well known as products of the Draper Company. The larger end of the bobbin is provided with suitable rings bv which it may be gripped and held` and the left hand end of the shuttle is provided with suitable resilient gripping jaws that hold the bobbin by means of the aforesaid rings.

lll!! llll ` it is supported in part by a `mechanism during the first beating up of the lay following replenishment. For this purpose the sword 15 at the change end of the loom is provided with a iishtail member (see Figure 26). A dagger 121 transmits the motion from the fishtail 120, but excepting as hereinafter described this dagger remains out of the path of the membei 120. The forward end of the dagger is connected by the pivot member 122 to an arm 123 the upper end of which is loosely mounted on the rockshaft 118. An arm 124 which is affixed to the rockshaft is connected to the arm 123 by a strong tension spring 125',` but the arms are normally maintained in a. predetermined angular relation by a finger 126 formed on thearm 123 and arranged to abut againstthel arm 124. The spring` 125 provides'a yielding connection between the two arms so as to avoid break age `ofthe connections in the erentthat a bobbin`is. 1nisplaced or for any reason fails to enter the shuttle as intended. The hammer 113 is normally held in its upper posivtion by a spring 127 connected at one end to the breast beam and at the other end to the arm 123.

lhen the dagger 121 is not in operation pin 128 (Figure 2S) carried by a latch 129.` This latch is mounted upon a pivot pin 130 projecting inwardly from the frame, member 10, and is `weighted and held by a tension spring 131 so that it normally occupies Vthe position shown by Figure 26. During the cycle of `the change shaft the rear end of the dagger is raised by a plunger 132 the upper end of which is arranged to slide in a guiding fixture 133. This plunger is made of two parts having telescopic relation with each other, the lower part 134 being pivot-1 ally connected by a pin 135 to a lever 136. The upper part of the plunger extends through holes formed in ears 137 formed on the pali-t 134. A compression spring 133 is seated on the lowerear 137 and bears against a collar 139 affixed to the part 132, thus constituting acushioning medium by which'breakage is avoided when for any reason upward movement of the dagger is prevented at the moment when the lever 136 is lifted. The lever is mounted on the tulcrunrod 26 and rests on a cam 140 carried by the change shaft.

lhen the rear end of the dagger is lift-V ed by thc plunger 132, a pin 141 (Figure.

28.) aiiixed to theflagger tilts the latch 129 by acting on an inclined face 142 formed on the latch. The pin is thus raised above the top of the latch, which springs back under the pin 141 as shown by Figure 27, thereby maintaining the dagger in registration with the fishtail after the plunger has returned to its lower position. As the lay executes its first beating-up motion thel dagger is carried forward by the lishtail. thereby operating the hammer 113. lVhile` this motion is occurring, the pin 141 carried by the dagger rides over and beyond the tip of an inclined horn 143 formed on the latch, and the latch again springs baclto its initial position, thereby carrying the tip of the horn 143 to a level above the pin 141. As the lay recedes from the breast beam, the dagger', being under the control of spring 127, follows the ishtail. and the pin 141 strikes the lower inclined `surface of the horn and tilts the horn in the opposite direction so that when the dagger is released by the iishtail member it will drop until arrested by the supporting pin 123 on` the latch.` The dagger and` the latch thus return to their initial positions as shown by Figures 26 and 28.`

The lever 136 serves the additional purposes of operating an arm 144 by which the outlying endof old [illing is carried forward to a clamping device and a threadparting device hereinafter described. This arm 144 is provided with two lingers 145 and 146 and moves to the position represented by dotted lilies in Figure 26 in order to receive the old filling.l The arm 144 is mounted upon a fulcrum pin 147 and .is Y

connected tothe lever 136 by a rod 143. The thread arm 144 moves to the position -reiLn-esented by dotted lines during the early stages ofthe c vcleof replenish'ing operations, so as to occupy said position when the spent shuttle is resting on the receiver 32 butprior to the upward movement of the receiver. The stretch of old filling running from the fabric to the spent shuttle is thus `carried over the tip of the linger so that it may lie between that finger and the linger 146. The arm 144 then immediately swings toward the breast beam, carrying the filling with it, the linger 145 being curved sutiiciently to prevent the lill-` ing` from escaping. The filling is thus taken under control by the finger 145 so that such control will be maintained notwithstanding the. subsequent movements of the spent shuttle. This part of the old filling is indicated at fin Figures 24 and 29. As it is being carried forward it enters the space between a 4hired clamping element 149 and a movable clamping member mounted on the breast beam. The member 149 forms li (l0 iio Jae

one shearing member of a thread-parting device7 the other shearing member being indicated at 151. Alt this time both thel clamping member' 150 and the movable shearing member 1.51 are raised as shown by Figure 2st. The movable shearing member is a lever mounted upon a fulcrum stud 152. lts forward end is connected by a link 153 to an arm 154C. This arm is affixed to a rockshaft 155 (see Figure t). The rockshaft is mounted in bearings afforded by the :fixture 77 and is provided with an operating arm 156. A tension spring 157 normally moves the parts to the position shown by Figure 2t. A portion 158 of the shuttle carrier (Figures le and 24) engages the operating arm 156 to depress the movable shearing member 151 during that stage of the replenishing operation between the moment when the spent shuttle is deposited in the charging position and the moment when the shuttle carrier reaches the forward limit of its motion. As shown by Figure 24, the shuttle carrier is about to move the arm 156 to the left.

The clamping member 150 is mounted upon a fulcrum stud 159 as shown by Figure 21. lt is provided with a slot 1607 and the latter is occupied by a pin 161 carried by the movable cutting arm. A tension spring 162 is hooked on the pin 161 and also on a pin 163 carried by the clamping member 15G. The clamping member is thus opened by the pin 161 when the latter has reached the upper end of the slot. The spring 162 is always under tension7 and consequently the clamping member 150 moves downwardly in unison with the piu 161 until it is arrested by the thread f, although the cutting meniber 151 continues thereafter to descend to part the thread. The clamp remains closed continuously through all the weaving periods, and is opened only during a portion of the repleni'sliing period, so that the remnants of filling caught by it are discharged only during that period when the shuttle carrier is interchanging the shuttles.

Referring to Figure 29, the clamping device is between the parting device 151 and the fabric, and consequently the said parting device sevcrs the filling between the clamping device and the spent bobbin, so that when the latter is discharged from the spent shuttle the old filling that occupies the eye of the shuttle will be pulled lengthwise from the eye by the dropping of the spent bobbin. The other remnant of old lliug running from the fabric to the clamping device will be parted close to the selvage by a temple thread cutter T after a few picks of new filling following replenishment. This remnant will remain suspended by the clamping device until the latter is opened during` the next replenishing cycle.

, As the bobbinsroll down the chute 109 their large ends are overlapped by a flange 165 shown by Figures 10 and 117 said flange. controlling the bobbins so that they will remain in regular order. At the same time the weft-end carriers carried by the tips of the bobbins are overlapped by a flange 166 at the other side of the chute. As each bobbin arrives at position A its weft-end carrier enters a sheet-metal housing 167 by which it is detached from the bobbin before the latter advances to position B. This housing. and two other housings indicated at 168 and 169, are affixed to a movable plate 170. This plate underlies the outer edge of the chute as shown by VFigures 5 and 10 and is connected to the chute so as to be movable relatively thereto in lines parallel to the axes of the bobbins. The connection between the plate and the chute is provided by screws 171 which extend loosely through slots 1'72 formed in the chute, nuts 173 being applied to the lower ends of the screws as shown by Figure 5. The housings 167. 166 and 165.). together with abutmentsafiixcd to the chute, cause the weft end carriers to follow a course indicated by broken line X in Figurl` 1Q, the carriers being thus separated step by step from the bobbins as the latter advance step by step to positions B and C. When the plate 17() moves from left to right. the stem of carrier a is wholly withdrawn from its socket in bobbin A, the carrier being-I shifted endwise until its body portion is in registration with a channel formed by parallel flanges 174.

A fiange 175 constitutes an abutment for the lower side of the carrier, to prevent the latter from rolling down the incline until it reaches the aforesaid channel. As soon as the channel is reached, the carrier rolls into it and is temporarily arrested by wings 176 of the housing next below. Then when the plate 17() returns to its initial position. it carries the housing` 168 into registration with the channel next above it and the carA rier then rolls into the housing 16S, where it occupies position l). The carrier is then arrested by another fiange 175. When the plate next moves from left to rightj the housing 168 shifts the carrier Z) into registration with another channel formed by au other pair of flanges 174, and the carrier then rolls into this chanel and is arrested by the wings of housing 169. lllhen next the plate 170 returns to its initial position it carries the housing 169 into registration with the carrier, and the latter rolls to position c in the housing- 169. where it is arrested by a flange 177. Fach weft-end carrier is thus permitted to advance by this stepped escapement, so that the several carriers will advance in accordance with the advancement of their respect-ive bobbins, the threads of filling remaining connected to the carriers and passing through a continuous lOll ` connectin mesma channel formed linpart by?` the Wings 175r and in part by wires or other elements 178' ,Q the Wings in aseries with the first housing 167. y y TheWeft-end `carrier of bobbin D occupies a stationary housing 179,'into` which it rolls from the rightlihand end of the flai'ige` 177. The carrier ci is temporarily `supported in this housing by a leaf spring 180 shown in Figure 6; and When theh-annner isoperated to depress bobbin'l) into the spent shuttle, a' blade/181 carried by/the hannner enters an opening fin `the top of housingf 179 and depiesses the carrier el past its supporting spring.- `The weft-end carrier of the charging bobbin is thus released simultaneously with -the charging" operation, and

the carrier drops througha chute'182 which" is curved at 183 so as to deflect the carrier" intoan opentray 184.` the filled bobbin takes, its position iutheshuttle asindic'ated at EiuFigure 5,\its weft-end'carrier takes i theposition shown in .saidfigurd and the lil connecting stretch ofV llingieiis drawnA across the nose of the shuttle and intothe throat 88 and also' through'a crack 185" forined'in the rear Awall of the chute 182.

As the bobbin advancesfroln C to D the thread connecting it with the corresponding weft-fend carrier passes over the top of 'the spent shuttle and is arrested by the horn 86. sit this point the thread'ismsupported by a tutt of flexible bristles 186, and the stretch of thread running from the horn 'to the weft-end carrier now `supported atd (Fig-` uros el, Gand 10) is directly above andA sub-` stantially in registration'vvith the throat 88 in thetop of the shuttle.` As'the bobbin and the corresponding weft-,end `carrier 'are depressed to charge the shuttle, they drayv the connecting thread downwardly along the horn 86 `and past the bristles186 which` are easily deflected, thethread being guided into lthe thro-at by the horn.

Each bobbin upon reaching position D is registered by `ineaus of a fixed V'abutment 187 and a movable tappet 188 shown by Figures 4,18 and 10.. The tappet 188 is affixed to a vertical rockshaft 189`and is initially` held l y in the position shown by Figure `1O` by a tension spring' 190. The rockshaft is 1nounted in a bearing 191 formed inthe fixture 77, and its .lower end is provided with a" finger ilQQtliat normally Vstands in the `path `'of the f right-hand end of the right-handabutlnent 7 8 formed on `the shuttle earrler, as shown? by Figure 14( The construction is suchthat when the shuttle carrier moves to its eX- treme forward position after having deposited the spent shuttle in the charging position it engages and displaces lfinger 192 andfthereby moves the tappet 188 toward the; abutment 187 at the opposite end of the bobbin B, Longitudinal registration of the `bobbiu thus establishedandlis thereafter Yture 77 `to receive the, rings by which `the large end of the bobbin isgripped inithe shuttle: 4

Figures 5, 15 and 29 show the extent to which the shuttle is threaded bythe -chargL ing operation,k and also show the` Wett-end carrier lying in the tray 1841.A As-the weftenjd carrier is deflected into the tray'itdraws the thread alongya channel formedbyA a guiding strip 194, said channel" being .closed at its outerend sowas `to prevent the thread from escaping. The tray has kan upright retaining Wall by. which the Weftrendcarrier isprevented from escaping until it is drawn laterally through an outlet i passageway f 195. W'hen the charged shuttle is subsequently transferred bythe shuttle carrier from the charging positionto the change shuttle-box,- its outlyingzstretch of fillingA e is still held by the weft-end carrier and extends in the directionrepresented byibroken lines in'Fjigures 5 and 14, the thread payingfoutfrorn' the bobbin as the shuttle inoyes away frein the weft-end carrier. This threadjs-subse; quently pressed down by the movable, shuttle box front 2O which descends shortly ,after the chargedy shuttle has been deposited inthe change shuttle boX; but theishuttleboxdiront leaves a slight space between its lovver surface and the slnittlerace,l ,as shown by, ure 21 so that the stretch of filling will be free from any clamping. effect'x at that point.y The thread `is thus held by the movable `shuttle box front that it ywill notride over the top of the left-hand shuttle-supporting sec-` tion" `32- of the shuttle receiverjwhen the shuttle is picked throughfthe shed, and when the shuttle is so picked the; trailing 4thread is` caught by a notch'196 (Figure 16) Vformed in the shuttle receifver.V If the pnll erecuted:

by the shuttle dislodgcs the Weftendfcarrier from the tray '184 during the first flight of the shuttle after weft-replenishinentg the trailing stretch of filling will' be Vdrawn-"to the closed outer 'end' of the guide'strip 184i as shown by Figure 31, thereby drawing the Wett-end carrier through 'the openingl 195 and suspending the carrier` byf the lilling. On the other hand, if the filling-ispaid out from the bobbinAWithoJut dislodging the` Weitend carrier, the latter" will be dislodgged the shuttlelreceiver as represented byia solid" line in `Figure `80, such dispiaseine-ntv being effective to draw the `weft-end carrier through -the opening If .1t has notalready ico lio

been so drawn, The weft-end carrier cont-inues to be suspended by its thread until the take-up mechanism (not shown) has advanced the fabric to a point where the outlying stretch of new filling together with the outlying stretch of old filling have been carried into the range of action of the temple thread cutter T. Then the thread c is parted by the temple thread cutter the carrier e drops to the fioor or into a receptacle provided to receive it, thereby drawing the remnant of thread endwise through the guiding strip 194 and clearing the channel formed. by the latter. During the fiight of the shuttle through the shed after replenishment, the new filling occupies the throat of the shuttle substantially as shown by Figures 15 and 29, but during the first return flight the thread is drawn completely into the eye S9 and thereafter continues to pass through the eye.

The mechanism shown by Figures 10 to 13 inclusive for detaching the weft-end carriers from the bobbins and for controlling the step-bystep advancement of the carriers is operated in one direction by the shuttle carrier and in the opposite direction by a spring. It has been stated that the thread clamp 150 and the parting device 151 are operated by the shuttle carrier through the agenc of the mechanism shown by Figure 24. ccording to this figure the part 158 of the shuttle carrier is about to move the arm 156 to the left. This same arm is provided with an arm 200 to the upper end of which a rod 201 is pivotally connected as shown by Figure 1. A plate 202 is affixed to the rear end of the rod and is arranged to slide in a notch formed in a stationary guid ing stud 203 projecting from the fixture 102. The plate has an inclined edge 204 which constitutes a cam and is arranged to bear against a shoulder 205 formed on a bar 206.

This bar is arranged to slide endwise in guides formed in a pair of stationary bars 207 by which the bobbin chute 109 is supported, the sliding bar extending under the chute and in parallelism with the bobbins.- The movable plate 170 hereinbefore described is aflixed to the bar 206 and is normally held in the position shown by Figures 10 and 11 by a tension spring 208. This spring keeps the shoulder 205 against the inclined edges 201 of the cam plate, but is opposed by the more powerful spring 157 which acts on the rockshaft 155 to move the plate 170 from left to right. The force by which the weft-end carriers are shifted from left to right is applied by the spring 157 when the shuttle carrier moves to transfer the charged shuttle to the change shuttle box; and when the shuttle carrier returns to its forward position, thereby turning the rockshaft 155 in opposition to the applied force of the spring 157, it moves the cam plate 204 positively and thus permits the weaker spring 208 to return the plate 170 to the position shown by solid lines in Figure 10. The plate 170 therefore remains during the weaving periods in such position that the first housing 167 on said plate is in position to receive the weft-end carrier of the filled bobbin that is about to roll to position A.

As shown by Figures 4l and 7 a vertical plate 210 is affixed to the charging hammer in such position as to constitute an abutment for bobbin C during the charging op eration, all the bobbins iu the chute being held bach' by the plate 210 until the charging hammer has returned to its upper position after having forced a bobbin into the spent shuttle.

lt has been stated that the charged shuttle is clamped on .the shuttle carrier by the fingers (Figure 1S) during the period of transferring said shuttle from the charging position to the change shuttle box. The clamping action of the fingers is caused by the tension spring 211 shown in Figures 8 and 16. The upper end of this spring is attached to a finger 212 which in turn is affixed to the finger' 75. The lower surface of the finger 212 is shaped to constitute a cam. frs shown by Figure 8 the shuttle carrier, moving from right to left, is about to remove the charged shuttle from the supporting brackets 76, the abutments 62 on the shuttle carrier being against the front face of the shuttle. ris the shuttle carrier advances from right to left, the abutments 62 push the charged shuttle so that the rear or left-hand wall of the shuttle becomes seated on the carrying fingers G0; but before the front wall of the shuttle leaves the supporting surface ot the brackets 76, the finger 212 rides over a stationary roll 213 with the result that the clamping fingers 65 are opened to receivethe front wall of the shuttle. liefore the trailing end of the finger 212 is released by the roll 213, the front wall of the shuttle is in such position relatively to the carrier that it will be clamped by the fingers 65 as soon as the finger 212 leaves the roll.

ln order to prevent lint and other particles floating in the air ot' the weaving room from settling on the bobbins in the magazine` the latter' is provided with a fiexible apron 215, as shown by lFigures 20 and 32. The magazine is provided also with. means for ejecting the bobbins so as to insure their discharge, and when the magazine is filled very nearly to the top` this apron prevents them from jumping out of the magazine when agitated. The apron may be made of canvas or any other suitable flexible sheet material. According to the construction shown7 its front edge is provided with a metallic reinforcing strip 2l6, and its rear I "the magazine. y

Wood or any other preferred material are,

edgewis providedsivith awmeitallic strip 217. The strip 216 is provided with holes for the reception ofvertical guide rods 218. The strip 217` is provided With notches 219 at its ends for the receptionof flanges 220 affixed to the interior of the maga-zine.Y The apron is therefore free todescend as the massof hobhins under it is reduced. Accessto the magazine forcharging it` with filled loolobins isiconveniently afforded fhylifting the strip L11` above the top` of the flanges 220 and folding' the apron hack over the front wall of Crossloars` or ribs 221 of imafrazine.` These star Wheels are affixed to a` shaft 226 which is rotated intermittently ina direction such as to advance the hoh- 1pins toivardthe chute 109. Other star Wheels 227 are arranged alcoveA the lowest courseof hobbins andare rotated intermittently to agitatethe bolohins resting on the lowest course. The Wheels 227 tend to urge the bohhins ofthe second course in the opposite direction relatively to those of the lowest course. The Wheels 227 are afxed tof a shaft 228 which extends through bean ings in the upright side Walls of the man'- azine and `is provided with a ratchet 1vheel 229hy which it is rotated intermittently. Rotation is transmitted from the -shaft 228 to the shaft 226 by sprocketwvheels 230 and a chain231.` An arm 232 isloosely mounted on theshaft 228 and carriesa paivl 233 arranged to engagethe ratchet Wheel `229.

AThis arm is moved positively in one direotionso as to cause the `pawl233 `to click over the teeth of the ratchet Wheel,` and 1s moved in the opposite direction hy tension` spring- 281i. According to the mechanism shown. the operation of the pawl 233 is edgected hy the Weaving mechanism during the first heating-up motion of the lay folleaving` replenishment. For this purpose a lug); 2135 is afiixedto oueof "the sivords'l as shown by Figures 21i`and22. This lug` projects laterally` heyondthe lay cap 236, and in order to exercise lits' functionit cooperates with a 11151237 affixed to aber 238. rThe har is connected by a pivot member 23) to the loiver end of the pawl carrier 232, being; guided in part'bythe `latter and in part by a plate 2/-10 alhxedftothe `stationary har` 102 on livhichtheV magazine ,is mounted;` As shown by F1gure23, the har 238 extends through aihole2t1 inthe plate7 the; hole being` elongated verticallywtnd ,being provided With a notch 242 at its'loiver end and with a shoulder 243 forming' one Wall of the notch. The forward end of the har is curved laterally as shown `by Figures 19 and 22, and is also curved `upwardly shown by .Figures 19- and 2l. The forward end of the tension spring 23a is attached to this extremity of the` bar and eXertsits tension in a direction such' as to produce three distinct movements `of the har, viz: lt moves the har lengthwise, it raises the forward end and depresses the rear` end of the har, and it swings the har laterally from the position represented by solid lines in Figure 22 to the position represented hy broken lines. These motions executed by the har will he more fully explained hereafter.

`When the har occupies its initial position4` as shown best by Figure 22%, its lower edge occupies the notch 2a2rthe shoulder 248 thereby maintainingl the lug; 237 out of the path of the lue` 235, as shown hy Figure 22, in which the initial position of the one is represented hy solid lines and in which the path of the tip of the lug' 23.3 is represented hy broken line 79.

During theoperation of the replenishingr mechanism the bar is lifted out of the notch 242 by any convenientelementi such as a nieniheri2ite affixed `to theinovahle shuttle. hoi; front 20. l'Vhen the bar is so .lifted it escapes from theshoulder21l3 and is `then immediately shifted laterally b vl-the spring;` 234 to the position represented hy dotted lines in Figure 22. Then the shuttle hoi; front returns to its `initial `position the har 2238 rests upon thetop oftheshoulder 24?, the lug 25:37 then standing` in the path of the lug As the. lay executes its first heatingaip motion thereafter. `the lug 235 strikes the lug- 237,` .thereby carrying the liar toward the front and causing' the paivl 233 to cliclrover theteethof its ratchet Wheel without turningthe shaft 228. At this time the shaft is` held against rotation by a retaining` paivl 24.5 and a ratchet Wheel 2&6. lefore the lay reaches the limit of its `heatingfup motion the bar 238 is shifted lat-erally so to release the lug 237 from 'the lug;- 1 This motion is produced hy a laterallyinclined tip 247 at the rear end of "the har. When this tip engages the plate 24() at the point indicated at 248 it shifts the har laterally to effect the escape of the lun' 237 and resto-resthe har to a position in registration with the .notch 242... The springv immediately depresses theiharwinto the notch and also` returns the har to its initial posi-y tion, as shown hy Figures 2l and 22, there-- hy imparting' a partialxrotation to the `shafts 228 and 226;: lVhen thehar 23S is in its forward position another laterally inclined tip 249 prevents it from` escaping ffrom the plate 240. rlhe return movement of the pawl carrier 232 is arrested by an abutment Q50.

A cycle of replenis-hing` operations is substantially as follows: W'hen the feeler mechanism calls for replenishment the main driving clutch is released automatically and the brake is set to arrest the weaving mechanism when the lay is at or near rear center. Concurrently with this operation the power is connected to the change shaft 30, which rotates slowly in an anti-clockwise direction as viewed according to Figure 1. This occurs in every ease when the spent shuttle is in the box at the change end of the loom. lVhile the spent shuttle is being taken out of the change shuttle box, the shuttle carrier moves to transfer the charged shuttle to the shuttle box, and while the shuttle carrier is in contiguous relation to the shuttle box, the spent shuttle is deposited upon it so as to be transferred to the charging position by the return trip of the shuttle carrier.

lVliile the interchange of shuttles is talring place the outlying ends of filling running from the shuttles are held so as to be controlled and subsequently parted, that of the spent shuttle being clamped by the clamping elements 149 and 150 (Figure 24), and that of the charged shuttle being held by its weft-end carrier e (Figure 29). Vhen the change shaft is about to complete its cycle of rotation it disconnects vthe replenishing clutch and reconnects the weaving clutch. Upon resumption of the weaving operation the lirst beating-up motion causes the charging hammer 113 to insert a filled bobbin into the spent shuttle in the charging position, thereby discharging the spent bobbin F (Figure 29), which drops and clears the eye of the shuttle by drawing the remnant of the old filling f endwise from the eye. Then a few picks of new Vfilling have been woven into the fabric, the outlying remnant of old filling which is still connected to the fabric, and the first stretch of new filling e connecting the weft-end carrier e with the fabric, are carried into the field of action of the temple thread cutter T and are parted by the latter. The various mechanisms have by this time completed a cycle of operations and are restored to their initial positions, ready to repeat the cycle when replenislmient is again called for by the feeder mechanism.

I claim:

1. The combination with mechanism for putting a` full bobbin into a spent shuttle having a throat for the weft, of means arranged to supply full bobbins and weft-end carriers to charge spent shuttles successively, and means arranged to control the weftend carriers so that each, in turn, will move to carry its weft-thread into the throat of the shuttle in charging position when its respective bobbin is inserted into the shuttle.

2. The combination with mechanism tor charging a spent shuttle with a full bobbin, of means arranged to supply full bobbins and weft-end carriers to charge spent shuttles successively, means arranged to control the stretch of weft between each bobbin in turn and the respective weft-end carrier, and means arranged to control the weft-end carriers so that each, in turn, will draw its weft-end downwardly into the throat of the shuttle in charging position when its respective bobbin is inserted into the shuttle.

3. The combination with mechanism tor charging a spent shuttle with a full bobbin. of means for supplying full bobbins having detachable weft-end carriers initially attached thereto, mechanism arranged to detach the weft-end carriers from their respective bobbins, and means arranged to control the detached weft-end carriers so that each, in turn, will gravitate to carry its wett-end in the throat of the shuttle in charging position when its respective bobbin is inserted into thel shuttle.

4. The combination with mechanism for charging a spent shuttle with a full bobbin, ot' a magazine for supplying full bobbins each having a detachable weft-end carrier attached thereto, means arranged to conduct the bobbins from said magazine to said charging mechanism, means arranged to detach the weft-end carriers from the bobbins, .means for controlling the weft-end carriers so as to drop them successively, and means arranged to control the stretch of weft-thread between each bobbin and its respective weftend carrier so that the said stretch will be drawn laterally into the throat of the shuttle by the dropping weft-end carrier.

5. The combination with mechanism i'or charging a` spent shuttle with a full bobbin, of an inclined raceway arranged to roll full bobbins successively to the charging position, mechanism arranged to detach wettend carriers from the bobbins successively, an inclined element on which the detached weft-end carriers may gravitate so as to carry the weft-thread across the shuttle in charging position, and means for controlling the weft-end carriers and the wettthreads so that` the carriers, in turn, will lay their respective wett-threads in the throat of the shuttle.

G. The combination with mechanism Alor charging a spent shuttle with a full bobbin` of a thread-fender constructed and arranged to deflect a thread into the throat of a shuttle in the charging position, means for supplying full bobbins successively to theI charging mechanism, and means for controlling the weft-end of the charging bobbin so as to draw the same against said threadfender and into the throat of the shuttle.

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